A new Angus Reid Poll, done in partnership with the group, “Cardus,” shows a majority of people support government investment in child care but there are divisions over how and where to allocate the funding. 70 per cent of Canadians say this country should invest more in affordable options for child care. But, they are evenly divided between allocating funds directly to child-care providers or parents themselves.

Regionally, support for national child care is strongest in Ontario, Quebec, and Atlantic Canada. By contrast, Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba report the highest rates of opposition, though still at below-majority levels

Parents of children under six staying at home for child care are more likely to express support for policies that provide financial support to families rather than the child-care system itself, including a monthly subsidy for in-home care and paid family leave outside of EI, among others.

In Saskatchewan and Manitoba, 54 per cent say fund child-care providers to support the spaces available in the system.